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Minho’s phone vibrates, Chan’s contact photo filling the screen. Minho blinks. He knows what it’s about. It’s always about the same thing. Chan’s girlfriend. Minho sighs and picks up the phone, the sound of Chan’s sobs immediately assaulting Minho’s ears. Minho stays silent, letting out a small hum to let Chan know he’s listening, but otherwise letting Chan mumble to himself.
Dori jumps on Minho’s lap, scratching her head on the corner of his phone and letting out a trill. Chan’s crying goes quiet.
“Baby,” Chan whispers, voice tiny. Minho huffs out a laugh.
“Yeah, Dori decided to come say hello.” As if on cue, Dori lets out another meow.
“Hi Dori,” Chan coos, Dori meowing once more.
“I think she’s trying to say hi back.” Minho says. A happy hum comes from the other side of the line. “You should come say hi soon, the kids miss you.” Minho states, waiting a moment before continuing, “and I do too.” Minho’s voice was much quieter. Chan takes a nervous breath.
“I don’t think she’d let me…” he trails off. Minho holds back a scoff. There’s so much he wants to say. She shouldn’t treat him like that. She shouldn’t monitor who he hangs out with. She shouldn’t keep him locked up in their shared apartment like a prisoner. She should let him be his own person. He shouldn’t have to suffer like this. Minho could treat him so much better. Minho bites his tongue. He can’t. Not right now. He pushes down the feeling bubbling in his throat. Chan is going through something, something awful, he mentally chides himself. Now is not the time to blurt out his feelings like a grade schooler with a crush. There’s never a time to do that, the thought bitterly lodges itself in Minho’s mind. The two will forever be stuck in this cycle, a never-ending dance around each other, he thinks. They’ll never get their perfect ending. Minho cuts off the train of thought there and goes back to the moment at hand.
“You shouldn’t have to get her permission to see your friends.” Minho gently starts. Chan sighs.
“I know, I just…I don’t want her to get mad. Y’know what they say, happy wife, happy life.” Chan nervously laughs. Minho’s jaw tightens.
“She’s not your wife.” Minho nearly snaps.
“I dunno,” Chan has an upwards lilt to his voice. “Maybe someday, I mean, I’m not miserable.” Chan says as if he’s trying to convince himself.
“Chan…that’s not how a relationship works. Are you sure you aren’t miserable, I mean, I haven’t seen you in months, Hyung. When was the last time you even left the house? She’s keeping you prisoner. You shouldn’t marry her just to be married, just to say you have a wife, you shouldn’t give yourself up like that, Hyung. You deserve to be happy, Chan.” Minho tries to tell the elder. Chan makes a quiet, strangled noise. Minho hears Chan take a breath.
“It’s not like I don’t leave the house. I mean, just the other day I went to one of her work dinners! And she took me- oh.” Chan goes silent for a moment. “I gotta go,” he continues, “she’s home already. I’m sorry, thank you for being so patient, and always being there for me. Thanks for being a friend, Minho. I’ll call you tomorrow at ten?” Chan asks, not really looking for an answer. A tear down Minho’s cheek.
“Of course, Hyung. I’ll always be here for you. I’ll wait for you, forever, like I already do.” Minho whispers, but the words disappear into the air, Chan already having ended the call.
“I’ll wait till you’re ready,” Minho whispers to no one. “Just please don’t let me be too late.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Minho knocks on the just-barely-familiar door, only having seen it once or twice before being promptly banned. Not by Chan, of course, but by the Girlfriend From Hell™. The door swings open, said girlfriend scoffing once her eyes land on Minho. Minho responds with a tight smile.
“What are you doing here,” She asks, venom lacing her putrid voice.
“To see Chan, why else would I be here? It’s not like I’d ever willingly spend time with you.” Minho looks her up and down in a way that is very much judgy. She rolls her eyes. Minho continues, “And it’s just that it’s been a while since I’ve seen Chan. I miss hanging out with him.” Minho blinks his eyes innocently
“Well, that must say something about your relationship, hm?” She asks in a faux sweet voice.
Minho wants so badly to snark back, but he doesn’t, for the sake of her relationship. At least, that's what he's telling himself. His self control is really being tested today.
“Noona, who’s at the door?” Chan asks as he a week peeks around the corner of, presumably, his office.
“No one.” She responds, voice scathing.
“Actually, I am someone! And I’m here for cat therapy.” Minho politely (although, very much passive aggressively) shoves past her and holds up Soonie, smiling.
“I’m allergic to cats.” She says in her snobbish, patronizing voice. As if Minho cares. He flashes her a very obviously fake smile and retorts,
“Good thing I’m not here for you!” And turns his full attention back to Chan, who was preoccupied, cooing at Soonie, said cat affectionately rubbing herself all over Chan.
“Oh, Soonie, I missed you.” Chan overdramatically announces, a pout forming on his face as he picks the cat up. Soonie sniffs Chan’s face and boops his nose with her own, pulling her head back and looking at Chan as if he personally offended her. Chan laughs, a beautiful sound that Minho’s missed oh so much since he and that female satan got together, almost two years ago. Speaking of the devil, Minho turns around slowly like some sort of supervillain when the sound of her scoff makes it to his ears.
(Dang sound pollution, Minho jokes internally, huffing out a small laugh.)
“Chan, tell this man and his cat to leave.” She orders condescendingly with a hand on her hip and scowl on her face. Chan freezes and stutters out a response that Minho doesn’t let reach her.
“Actually, I’d like to stay a little longer, if you don’t mind. Y’know, Soonie has a bit of an attachment issue, she doesn’t do very well when being taken away from her favorite human. I wouldn’t want her to…I don’t know, attack someone due to it.” Minho says in a faux chipper voice. “You can always leave if you’re uncomfortable.” Minho glares at her with a fake smile.
“It’s my apartment.” She responds. Minho lets out a huff.
“And last I checked, it’s Chan’s as well. I will stay however long I want, seeing the fact that I’m Chan’s longest friend, and, quite frankly, have no intentions of obeying your commands as I have no respect for you. Ta-ta!” Minho waves and turns back around, snarky face falling once he spots Chan’s shock. Chan stares at the door, where she scoffed and stormed out a few moments prior.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” Minho apologizes, an air of seriousness suddenly surrounding him. Chan’s eyes widen impossibly further as he huffs out a shocked laugh.
“I can not believe you did that.” Chan’s face breaks into a smile. “Thank you.” He whispers.
Minho smiles back. “Of course, Hyung. I’d do anything for you.” His smile turns grim, not that Chan notices, instead plopping on the floor and playing with Soonie. Minho lets his guard down for a moment, face falling completely as he fights against the urge to take Chan’s hand and run far, far away from everything. He doesn’t. Instead, he situates himself on the floor in front of Chan, talking about anything and everything, waiting for her to come home and reset the cycle. Minho will just enjoy the time he has while he can. He might not have a chance to for much longer.
~~~~~~~~~~
Minho pulls the blanket on his bed down, climbing under it and relishing in the warmth for a moment before being so rudely interrupted by his phone buzzing with a new message. Minho huffs and takes his phone off the bedside table, flipping it to view the message. It’s from Chan.
Chan: Thank you for today, Minho. I think I really needed some cat therapy:)
Minho: ofc you did everyone needs cat therapy
Chan: Seriously, though, it helped. A lot.
Minho: I’m always here to help, hyung, just say the word and I’ll be there
Chan: What word?? haha
Minho: how about apples:p
Chan: Perfect!
The conversation dies there, Minho bidding him a good night and turning his phone off, laying it on the bedside table to forget all his responsibilities until tomorrow, when the sun will come up and the cycle will repeat. But, for tonight, Minho can pretend the cycle finally broke, even just for one delusional moment.
And maybe, just maybe, if Minho went to sleep that night with a hopeful smile, and sweet dreams to greet him in his slumber, no one has to know.
~~~~~~~~~~
This time, Minho picks up the phone before the first ring could even finish its cycle, already anticipating the call.
“What’s up, Hyung?” Minho immediately greets. Chan responds with a sob. Again.
“She broke up with me,” he cries. Minho’s eyes widen in shock. That wasn’t what he was expecting. Chan continues. “She said-,” a sob cuts him off. “She said that- that she was over me. How am I supposed to get over her getting over me? How am I supposed to live without her,” Chan breaks into another round of sobs, catastrophizing like a teenage girl. Minho think’s that comparison is funny, but he keeps it to himself, even if he thinks Chan is being overly dramatic.
“You’ll be okay, with time. It feels like the end of the world right now, but I promise you, it gets easier.” Minho responds, turning into the advice-giving best friend, like always. The cycle continues. Chan sniffles.
“I dunno what to do, Minnie. I don’t have a home, I don’t have money, I have nothing.” Chan quietly cries again. Minho takes a deep breath.
“Do you have anyone to stay with? I could get you a hotel, or you could stay with me, if you need, while you get back on your feet.” Minho proposes, even if he knows he’ll regret it, when the time comes, having to help his best friend through a break up when he’s right there, ready to treat Chan perfectly, like he deserves, but he can’t let him stay on the streets. Chan hums quietly.
“Can I stay with you?” He whispers, as if scared Minho is about to scream ‘you just walked the prank!’ and throw him out. Minho could never.
“Of course! I’ll get the guest bed ready and I’ll send you the address, yeah?” Minho talks gently. Chan needs that. He should wear a big ‘handle with care’ sticker, Minho thinks. The idea is so silly, Minho quietly chuckles to himself.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.” Chan’s voice cracks, sniffles filling the line. Minho hums in response.
“I’ll see you soon, Hyung.” The line clicks, disconnecting. Minho sighs.
“Oh, Hyung, I know, someday, it’ll happen. You’ll finally forget the day you met her.” Minho waits a moment, silence filling the air. “Some days, I am this close to confessing, but it isn’t the right time, but… I just gotta get it through your head that you belong with me instead, that I could treat you so much better, that I could be your perfect fit,” Minho’s voice cracks, “you really are quite the heartbreaker, Hyung,” Minho laughs bitterly to himself, leaving the room to ready the guest room for said Hyung. This’ll be a long few weeks, he thinks to himself. He just hopes he can get through it without hurting either of them.
~~~~~~~~~~
It’s been three months. Three months of Chan moping around and trying to find purpose for himself. It’s slow going, but it’s going.
Chan got his old job back, falling back into his old habits, just producing, no sleep. Minho has to put him to bed almost every night, dragging him out of his rented studio, and back home. Minho swears, if it happens one more time, he’s going to institute a curfew. (He always says that. He never does.)
Regardless, the two have fallen into a rhythm, Minho waking up, getting ready for work, making breakfast, waking up Chan, leaving for work, working, going home, making dinner, doing household chores, dragging Chan home, going to sleep.
While Minho is feeling pretty content with this set up, it appears Chan is not. He might have a rhythm, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still in his sad, mopey state. His recent songs coincide with that narrative. They’re all breakup songs. Minho is getting very tired of it. He’s let nature take its course, he’s let Chan process his emotions, but he really needs to get out, do something, be social! Minho just wants the best for Chan.
(At least, that’s what Minho thinks. In the back of his mind, he can see that he’s being overbearing to Chan, like a parent, thinking he knows what’s best for Chan, but Minho’s judgement is far too clouded to see that.)
Chan, on the other hand, does not agree with Minho.
“I don’t see why I need to do anything different, I’m doing just fine the way I am,” Chan says as he unloads the dishwasher, putting all the cups in their correct cabinet on one of his rare days where he’s home early.
“Chan, it isn’t healthy. You need some sort of fun in your life. You need to do something to take your mind off of her.” Minho pushes. Chan scoffs.
“I don’t see why you can’t let me go at my own pace.” Chan’s tone is sharp, but that doesn’t deter Minho.
“Because I’m trying to help!” Minho stresses the last syllable. Chan turns around to stare at Minho.
“Then help me by leaving me be!” Chan’s eyebrows furrow, as if he can’t see why Minho is being so pushy with this.
“I can’t.”
“Why,” Chan asks, curious as well as irked.
“Because it’s like you can’t see the truth, or that you…choose not to. She treated you so badly, and I’m right here, I can take away your pain, I can treat you so well, I promise! Why won’t you let me just take care of you for once in your life?! All you do is keep crying over her, and moping around, and talking about how much you miss her, I mean, it’s like you’re trying to break my heart. Are you? ‘Cause that’s messed up.” Minho’s eyes fill with tears, all of his emotions that have been building up for the past two and a half years come pouring out like a waterfall.
“How can you not see, I’m right here, ready to love you, ready to care for you, to protect you, to heal you, and you keep pushing me away. How can you not know that I’m here for you!” Minho knows he’s playing dirty, that Chan is still healing, and Minho’s being unfair, but he can’t bring himself to care when he’s hurting, too.
Chan freezes. “...What?” He asks, a disbelieving laugh filling the room.
“I love you, Hyung. I have for years. I’ve waited, and waited, and waited for you to notice, to tell me I’m not crazy, and you love me too, but all you keep doing is hurting me, and it’s wearing me down! I’ve given you time, I’ve given you advice, I’ve given you everything you need, but it isn’t working. I’m tired of waiting, Hyung, just tell me I’m not crazy,” Minho pants, silent sobs racking his body, face contorted in desperation. Chan lets out a huff.
“Oh,” Chan swallows. “I didn’t know.” Chan said, entirely unconvincing.
“I think you did, you just don’t realize.” Minho whispers.
“Yeah,” Chan lets out a dry laugh, “I think so, too.” Chan’s face goes flat. He takes a deep breath. “I’m gonna go on a walk. When I get back, we’ll continue this conversation.” Chan monotonously grabs his jacket, key, slides on his shoes, and slips out the front door. Minho is left in the kitchen, stunned. He sinks to the floor, his loud sobs sure to annoy the neighbors.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Chan comes from his walk, he’s greeted by a puffy-eyed Minho, curled up on the couch, various blankets piled on top of him, and all three cats surrounding him. Doongie is laying a few feet away from Minho, Dori is against his chest, and Soonie is laying on the top of the couch, right above Minho’s head. Minho’s gaze pierce through Chan the second he steps in the door.
“Please don’t leave.” Minho’s voice is broken, barely audible. Chan almost misses the words.
“What?” Chan asks, confused.
“Please don’t leave again.” Minho lets out a small sob. Chan walks further into the room, getting a closer look at Minho. He looks pale, and a terrified look rests in his eyes. He was scared, Chan realizes. He jumps into action. wrapping Minho in a warm hug, careful not to jostle Dori.
“I’m so sorry,” Chan whispers, Minho nuzzling further into him.
“I thought you weren’t coming home, or you’d gotten hurt,” Minho cries.
“I’d told you I’d be back,” Chan responds, hesitant. Minho pulls back, a look of offence overtaking his face.
“And?” Chan chuckles.
“I see you still got your snark,” Minho cuddles back into Chan, slightly smiling.
“Always,” he whispers. The two bathe in the sorta-okay air, staying quiet and just enjoying each other’s company. Chan waits a few minutes before speaking again.
“I love you too, Minho,” Chan doesn’t even know if Minho is still awake, his breaths long since evening out.
Minho makes a surprised sound and stares at Chan with shock. Well, that answers Chan’s question.
“You do?” Minho whispers back, an incredulous look greeting Chan. Chan nods.
“I do.” Chan smiles. Minho smiles back and gives Chan a small peck on the cheek.
“I’m glad,” Minho giggles.
“Y’know, I thought you were gonna lick me.” Chan states in resignation. Minho scoffs.
“Well, contrary to popular belief, I am not actually a cat.” Minho narrows his eyes at Chan, who just laughs in response.
“I don’t know, maybe you just spent so much time around cats that you turned in to one,” Chan proposes. Minho tsks.
“It seems you’ll be spending a lot more time with them.”
“Of course!” Chan giggles, “I live with three of them.” Minho hums happily.
“Now you’ll be spending all your free time with your lovely boyfriend, who just so happens to have three of them as well.” Minho says, as if it’s obvious. Chan raises his eyebrows in amusement.
“Boyfriend, huh?” He says. Minho’s face drops, but before he can say anything, Chan continues. “It just so happens that I’ve been wanting a boyfriend,” Chan places his hand under Minho’s chin and brings it up, finally connecting their lips in a gentle kiss.
“My beautiful boyfriend,” Chan whispers after they break apart. Minho smiles brightly and brings their lips back together.
His beautiful boyfriend, Minho thinks to himself, is finally his.
~the end~